When it comes to understanding software or navigating through a website, a screencast can be a much more effective tool than a simple screenshot. Videos are so much more powerful than pictures and the same holds true with screencasting.

A screencast is a digital recording of what appears on a computer screen and it may also be known as a video screen capture, complete with audio narration. At times, some professionals choose to use on-screen actors, superimposing their video feed into the screencast itself.

You could try your hand at using some of the available software on the Internet, but outsource to one of the experts below and you can save yourself both time and headache. And you will likely end up with a better screencast too.

Demo Girl
Molly McDonald has been creating custom screencasts since 2006. The DemoGirl staff doubled in early 2009 when Maureen McDonald joined Molly. Previous clients include Giftee.me, Dooid.com, and WhoICompete.com.

Scraster
This firm promises to deliver highly-polished, professional screencasts for a variety of applications, including online tutorials and software demonstrations, explaining things “that aren’t sufficiently communicated with still images.”

ProCasts
Custom screencasts can be produced for businesses and organizations by ProCasts, a firm based out of the United Kingdom. Past clients include Crunch, LiveDrive, and AppBeacon.

DapperText
Daniel Park wrote a book on screencasting and provides his services with Camtasia Studio. Premium pricing starting at $1,000, including a $175 per hour fee for local, in-person meetings and consultations.

Whistle Media
Screencast services include the entire creative process. Whistle Media will work with its clients for preproduction (like script writing), actual production with Camtasia or Screenflow, post production effects, delivery, and distribution through third-party video sites and social media sharing.

Ian Ozsvald
In addition to being a professional screencast producer and author of The Screencasting Handbook, Ozsvald is also a self-described “entrepreneurial geek” and an artificial intelligence consultant.

SkillCasting
Having been in the training and development industry for over 20 years, Scott Skibell founded SkillCasting to help others package knowledge in “web promotional pieces,” including iPhone-compatible screencast videos.

Working Draft Solutions
Jody Phillips is a professional screencaster, freelancer, and consultant based out of Chicago, Illinois.

Lilipip
While it does not strictly specializing in professional screencasting, Lilipip is a trusted name in the world of online marketing and online animated videos. They aim to make business fun, delivering fun “with a predictable price and a guaranteed date.”

Envy Labs
In addition to other services, like app development and media production, Envy Labs also produces professional screencasts that are engaging, understandable, and available. They even use green screens for better actor integration.

A freelance writer and professional blogger based out of Vancouver, Canada, Michael Kwan focuses primarily in the areas of consumer electronics, entrepreneurship, and personal development. He blogs six times a week at Beyond the Rhetoric. Follow him on Twitter: @michaelkwan